Flexible touch screen panel and flexible display device with the same

ABSTRACT

A flexible touch screen panel includes a substrate having flexibility, sensing electrodes on at least one surface of the substrate, and implemented using an opaque conductive metal, and a polarizing plate on the substrate having the sensing electrodes formed thereon. The sensing electrodes may be implemented in a mesh shape having a plurality of openings.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation application based on pending application Ser. No.15/709,575, filed Sep. 20, 2017, which in turn is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 14/592,276, filed Jan. 8, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No.9,778,697 B2 issued Oct. 3, 2017, which in turn is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 13/888,574, filed May 7, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No.8,946,985 B2, issued Feb. 3, 2015, which in turn claims priority under35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/643,566, filedon May 7, 2012, and entitled “FLEXIBLE TOUCH SCREEN PANEL AND FLEXIBLEDISPLAY DEVICE WITH THE SAME,” all of which are incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

This application claims the benefit of and priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0012887, filed on Feb. 5,2013, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and entitled:“FLEXIBLE TOUCH SCREEN PANEL AND FLEXIBLE DISPLAY DEVICE WITH THE SAME,”which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

Embodiments relate to a flexible touch screen panel and a flexibledisplay device with the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

A touch screen panel is an input device that allows a user's instructionto be input by selecting an instruction content displayed on a screen ofa display device or the like with a user's hand or object. The touchscreen panel may be formed on a front face of the display device toconvert a contact position into an electrical signal. The user's hand orobject may directly contact the touch screen panel at the contactposition. Accordingly, the instruction content selected at the contactposition may be input as an input signal to the image display device.Since such a touch screen panel may be substituted for a separate inputdevice connected to a display device, such as a keyboard or mouse, itsapplication fields have been gradually extended.

SUMMARY

Embodiments are directed to a flexible touch screen panel, including asubstrate having flexibility, sensing electrodes on at least one surfaceof the substrate, and implemented using an opaque conductive metal, anda polarizing plate on the substrate having the sensing electrodes formedthereon. The sensing electrodes may be implemented in a mesh shapehaving a plurality of openings.

The sensing electrodes may be implemented with first sensing electrodesarranged in a first direction and second sensing electrodes arranged ina second direction intersecting the first direction.

The first sensing electrodes may be configured with a plurality of firstsensing cells arranged along the first direction and first connectionpatterns connecting the first sensing cells to each other, and thesecond sensing electrodes are configured with a plurality of secondsensing cells arranged along the second direction and second connectionpatterns connecting the second sensing cells to each other.

The first sensing electrodes and the second sensing electrodes may be onthe same surface of the substrate.

An insulation layer may be interposed in at least one intersectionportion between the first and second sensing electrodes.

The first sensing electrodes and the second sensing electrodes may berespectively on different surfaces of the substrate.

The opaque metal may be at least one low-resistance metal selected fromthe group of Ag, Al, Cu, Cr, and Ni, or a nano-metal conductive layer.

The polarizing plate may be implemented with a film made of a poly vinylalcohol having flexibility.

The polarizing plate may be implemented with a coating-type polarizinglayer.

The coating-type polarizing layer may be formed with a thin crystal filmpolarizer.

The substrate may be implemented with one of a non-stretchedpolycarbonate and a cyclic polyolefin, as a low retardation film havinga low retardation value.

At least one retardation film may be between the substrate and thepolarizing plate.

The retardation film may be a quarter-wave plate or half-wave plate.

The substrate may be implemented with one of a polycarbonate film, anoriented poly propylene film, and a poly vinyl alcohol film, which havea retardation function.

The substrate may be a quarter-wave plate.

A half-wave plate may be between the substrate and the polarizing plate.

Embodiments are also directed to a flexible display device with aflexible touch screen panel, including a substrate having flexibility,sensing electrodes on at least one surface of the substrate, andimplemented using an opaque conductive metal, a polarizing plate on thesubstrate having the sensing electrodes thereon, and the flexibledisplay device attached beneath the substrate. The sensing electrodesmay be implemented in a mesh shape having a plurality of openings.

The flexible display device may be implemented as an organic lightemitting display device.

A window substrate may be attached to an upper surface of the polarizingplate.

The window substrate may be formed of at least one of polymethylmethacrylate, acryl, and polyester.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features will become apparent to those of skill in the art by describingin detail example embodiments with reference to the attached drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a touch screen panel according to anexample embodiment.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are sectional views of the touch screen panel shown inFIG. 1.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are sectional views showing a touch screen panel and aflexible display device with the same according to an exampleembodiment.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are sectional views showing a touch screen panel and aflexible display device with the same according to another exampleembodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a touch screen panel and a flexibledisplay device with the same according to still another exampleembodiment.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are sectional views showing a touch screen panel and aflexible display device with the same according to still another exampleembodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a touch screen panel and a flexibledisplay device with the same according to still another exampleembodiment.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are sectional views showing a touch screen panel and aflexible display device with the same according to still another exampleembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings; however, they may be embodied indifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the example embodiments to those skilled in the art.

In the drawing figures, dimensions may be exaggerated for clarity ofillustration. It will be understood that when an element is referred toas being “on” another element, it may be directly on the other element,or one or more intervening elements may also be present. It will also beunderstood that when an element is referred to as being “under” anotherelement, it may be directly under, or one or more intervening elementsmay also be present. It will also be understood that when an element isreferred to as being “between” two elements, it may be the only elementbetween the two elements, or one or more intervening elements may alsobe present. Also, when an element is referred to as being “connected to”another element, it may be directly connected to the another element orbe indirectly connected to the another element with one or moreintervening elements interposed therebetween. Like reference numeralsrefer to like elements throughout.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a touch screen panel according to anexample embodiment. FIGS. 2A and 2B are sectional views of the touchscreen panel shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the touch screen panel according to thepresent example embodiment includes a substrate 10 having flexibility,first and second sensing electrodes 50 and 60 formed on at least onesurface of the substrate 10, and first and second position detectinglines 150 and 160 connecting the respective first and second sensingelectrodes 50 and 60 to an external touch driving circuit (not shown)through a pad portion 200.

As shown in FIG. 1, the first sensing electrode 50 is formed long in afirst direction (e.g., an X-axis direction), and may be arranged inplural numbers along a second direction (e.g., a Y-axis direction)intersecting the first direction.

The second sensing electrode 60 is formed long in the second direction,and may be arranged in plural numbers along the first direction.

The sensing electrodes 50 and 60 according to the present exampleembodiment may be formed of a flexible opaque conductive material ratherthan a transparent conductive material (e.g., indium tin oxide (ITO)) inorder to prevent an operation failure from being caused by a crack thatoccurs in the sensing electrode when the flexible touch screen panel isbent or folded. A low-resistance metal as an opaque metal, such as Ag,Al, Cu, Cr, or Ni, or a nano-metal conductive layer such as a silvernano-wire (AgNW) may be used as the conductive material of the sensingelectrodes 50 and 60. However, the present example embodiment is notlimited thereto.

ITO may have insufficient flexibility when used for sensing electrodesand cracks may occur when the ITO is applied to the flexible touchscreen panel. However, in the present example embodiment the opaquemetal is used as the sensing electrodes, and the occurrence of cracksmay be decreased as compared with the ITO, and thus the opaque metal maybe easily applied to the flexible touch screen panel. Where the sensingelectrodes 50 and 60 are formed of metal having a relatively lowerresistance than the ITO, RC delay is also reduced.

Where the sensing electrodes 50 and 60 are formed of the opaque metal,the metal reflection gloss and surface reflectivity of the opaque metalmay be increased so that a user can view the sensing electrodes 50 and60. Therefore, it may be difficult to implement a high-quality product.Thus, in the present example embodiment, a polarizing plate havingflexibility is formed on the substrate 10 having the sensing electrodes50 and 60 formed thereon, so that the metal reflection gloss may beremoved and the surface reflectivity may be decreased, thereby reducingthe visibility of the sensing electrodes.

In the present example embodiment, the substrate 10 having the sensingelectrodes formed thereon is a low retardation film that is positionedbelow the polarizing plate and has a flexible material. The substrate 10may be implemented with a non-stretched polycarbonate (PC) film, cyclicpolyolefin (COP) film, etc.

In another implementation, the substrate 10 may perform the function ofa retardation film provided in the polarizing plate. In the presentexample embodiment, the substrate 10 may be implemented with a PC,oriented poly propylene (OPP), or poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) film.

The structure of the present example embodiment as described above maybe implemented as various example embodiments, and will be described indetail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 8.

In the present example embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the sensingelectrodes 50 and 60 are formed in a mesh shape so that the opaqueconductive material is used as the sensing electrode. Referring to FIG.1, the first sensing electrode 50 may be configured with a first sensingcells 51 arranged in plural numbers in the first direction and a firstconnection pattern 52 electrically connecting the first sensing cells 51to each other. The second sensing electrode 60 may be configured with asecond sensing cell 61 arranged in plural numbers in the seconddirection and a second connection pattern 62 electrically connecting thesecond sensing cells 61 to each other.

A plurality of openings 70 are formed in the first sensing cell 51, thesecond sensing cell 61, the first connection pattern 52, and the secondconnection pattern 62, and accordingly, the mesh-shaped sensingelectrode may be implemented.

In the present example embodiment, the first and second sensing cells 51and 61 may have a rhombic shape, but the shape of the sensing cellaccording to the present example embodiment is not limited thereto.

A display device in which a plurality of pixels are regularly arrangedto display an image is disposed beneath the substrate 10 having thesensing cells formed thereon. In a case where the shape and arrangementof the sensing cells have regularity, a Moiré phenomenon may occur dueto interference between the pixels in the display device, and therefore,the display quality of the display device may be degraded. Thus, theframes of the sensing cells 51 and 61 may be implemented in the shape ofa random curve.

In the present example embodiment, for convenience of illustration, acase where the sensing cells 51 and 61 are implemented in the samerhombic shape as shown in FIG. 1 will be described as an example.

The first position detecting line 150 is connected to one end of thefirst sensing electrode 50, and the second position detecting line 160is connected to one end of the second sensing electrode 60. The firstand second position detecting lines 150 and 160 may transmit signalsdetected from the respective sensing electrodes 50 and 60 to the touchdriving circuit (not shown) through the pad portion 200. Thus, the touchdriving circuit receiving the signals transmitted from the first andsecond position detecting lines 150 and 160 may detect a user's touchposition.

In the present example embodiment, the first position detecting line 150may be formed of the same material as the first sensing electrode 50connected thereto, and the second position detecting line 160 may beformed of the same material as the second sensing electrode 60 connectedthereto. Thus, the position detecting line 150 or 160 may be formed withthe sensing electrode 50 or 60 through the same process, thereby furthersimplifying the process.

In the present example embodiment, the first and second sensingelectrodes 50 and 60 may be formed together on the same surface of thesubstrate, or may be formed on both surfaces of the substrate 10,respectively.

First, referring to FIG. 2A, there is shown a structure in which thefirst and second sensing electrodes 50 and 60 are formed together on thesame surface of the substrate 10. In the present example embodiment, theportion at which the first and second sensing electrodes 50 and 60intersect each other is insulated, and an insulation layer 41 may beinterposed in the intersection portion between the first and secondsensing electrodes 50 and 60.

The first and second sensing electrodes 50 and 60 intersect each otherbetween the first and second connection patterns 52 and 62. Therefore,as shown in the enlarged section of FIG. 2A, the insulation layer 41 mayexist between the first and second connection patterns 52 and 62. In thepresent example embodiment, the insulation layer 41 may be partiallyformed at the intersection portion of the first and second sensingelectrodes 50 and 60.

Next, referring to FIG. 2B, there is shown a structure in which thefirst and second sensing electrodes 50 and 60 are formed on both thesurfaces of the substrate 10, respectively. As shown in FIG. 2B, thesubstrate 10 performs the function of an insulation layer. Therefore,the first sensing cells 51 and the first connection patterns 52,constituting the first sensing electrode 50, may be formed on a firstsurface of the substrate 10, and the second sensing cells 61 and thesecond connection patterns 62, constituting the second sensing electrode60, may be formed on a second surface of the substrate 10. In thepresent example embodiment, a separate insulation layer (as shown inFIG. 2A) may be omitted to simplify the process.

FIGS. 3 to 8 are sectional views showing touch screen panels to whichthe structure of the touch screen panel described with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2 and flexible display devices with the touch screen panelsaccording to various example embodiments may be applied. Hereinafter, astacked structure of an example embodiment corresponding to each figurewill be described in detail.

First, in the example embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, like the exampleembodiment of FIG. 2B, first sensing cells 51 and first connectionpatterns 52, constituting first sensing electrodes 50, and firstposition detecting lines 150 connected to the first sensing electrodes50 are formed on a first surface of a substrate 10 a, and second sensingcells 61 and second connection patterns 62, constituting second sensingelectrodes 60, and second position detecting lines 160 connected to thesecond sensing electrodes 60 are formed on a second surface of thesubstrate 10 a.

However, for convenience of illustration, only the first sensing cells51 and the first position detecting lines 150, formed on the firstsurface of the substrate 10 a and only the second sensing cells 61 andthe second position detecting lines 160, formed on the second surface ofthe substrate 10 a are shown in FIG. 3A.

A polarizing plate 20 performing a polarizing function, a windowsubstrate 40 attached to the top of the polarizing plate 20, and aretardation film 10 b attached to the bottom of the polarizing plate 20are provided above the substrate 10 a having the sensing electrodesformed thereon. A flexible display device 100 is provided below thesubstrate 10 a.

In the present example embodiment, the components are attached to eachother by a transparent adhesive layer 30. In FIG. 3A, it has beenillustrated that the substrate 10 a having the sensing electrodes formedthereon is separated. However, this is for the purpose that the positionof the sensing cell or the like is clearly illustrated. Thus, thesubstrate 10 a is attached to the components by the transparent adhesivelayers 30 respectively formed on the top and bottom of the substrate 10a.

The display device 100 is a display device having flexibility, and maybe implemented as an organic light emitting display device. For example,unlike a liquid crystal display device, the organic light emittingdisplay device as a self-luminescent device does not require a backlightunit. A substrate is formed of, e.g., polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA),acryl, polyester (PET) or the like, which has flexibility. Thus, theorganic light emitting display device can have flexibility.

The transparent adhesive layer 30 is a transparent adhesive materialhaving high light transmittance. The transparent adhesive layer 30 maybe made of super view resin (SVR) or optically clear adhesive (OCA).

The polarizing plate 20 has flexibility.

A general polarizing plate may be implemented in a structure in which apolarizer is interposed between upper and lower support layers. Thepolarizer performs a function of controlling the amount of transmittedlight according to the polarized degree of incident light. The polarizermay be implemented with a film made of a PVA material. For example, thepolarizer implements polarization by stretching a PVA film having iodineabsorbed therein with strong tension. The support layers respectivelyprovided on the upper and lower surfaces of the polarizer may beimplemented with a film made of a triacetyl cellulose (TAC) material forprotecting and supporting the PVA film. However, in the generalpolarizing plate having the stacked structure, the polarizer has athickness of, e.g., about 20 μm, and each of the upper and lower supportlayers has a thickness of, e.g., about 80 μm. Therefore, the polarizingplate entirely has a great thickness of, e.g., about 180 μm.

TAC (a material of the general support layer) has high elasticity.Therefore, if the polarizing plate having the support layers is attachedto the flexible touch screen panel, it may not be possible to secure thebending characteristic of the flexible touch screen panel. Accordingly,in the present example embodiment, the polarizing plate 20 isimplemented by removing at least one support layer (relative to thegeneral polarizing plate) and forming the support layer using a materialwith flexibility, or is implemented by forming a coating-type polarizinglayer on the flexible support layer.

In the present example embodiment, the coating-type polarizing layer maybe formed in various structures and manners. For example, thecoating-type polarizing layer may be formed with a thin crystal filmpolarizer.

The retardation film 10 b is attached beneath the polarizing plate 20.The retardation film 10 b performs a function of providing a temporalphase shift (retardation) to light polarized by the polarizing plate 20so that incident light is converted into circularly polarized light oralmost circularly polarized light through left or right circularpolarization.

In the example embodiment of FIG. 3A, the retardation film 10 b is aquarter-wave plate (QWP) having a retardation function. For example, theretardation film 10 b may be implemented as a PC, OPP, or PVA film.

In the present example embodiment, the retardation film may beimplemented in the stacked structure of a plurality of retardation filmshaving different retardation values in order to secure the optimal blackcharacteristic for light transmitted through the polarizing plate 20.

Thus, when comparing the example embodiment of FIG. 3B with the exampleembodiment of FIG. 3A, the example embodiment of FIG. 3B has a structurein which a retardation film 10 c as a half-wave plate (HWP) is furtherprovided on the retardation film 10 b as the QWP. In the exampleembodiment of FIG. 3B, the structure is identical to that of FIG. 3A,except that the HWP is further provided, and therefore details thereofwill not be repeated.

In the example embodiment of FIGS. 3A and 3B, one or more retardationfilms 10 b and 10 c are provided to the lower surface of the polarizingplate 20. Therefore, the substrate 10 a on which the sensing cells 51and 61, etc., are formed may be implemented with a non-stretchedpolycarbonate (PC) film, cyclic polyolefin (COP) film, etc., as a lowretardation film having flexibility and very low retardation value(about 20 nm or less).

Since the display device 20 and the touch screen panel have flexibility,the window substrate 40 attached to the upper surface of the polarizingplate 10 for the purpose of strength improvement may be implementedusing a material with flexibility. Therefore, in the present exampleembodiment, the window substrate 40 may be made of PMMA, acryl, PET,etc., and the thickness of the window substrate 40 may be about 0.7 mm.

Next, in the example embodiments shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, like theexample embodiment of FIG. 2A, the sensing electrodes 50 and 60 areformed on the same surface of the substrate 10 a. The stacked structureof the other components is identical to that in the example embodimentof FIG. 3A, and therefore details thereof will not be repeated.

Thus, the example embodiment of FIG. 4A has a structure in which thefirst and second sensing cells 51 and 61 constituting the respectivefirst and second sensing electrodes 50 and 60, and the first and secondposition detecting lines 150 and 160 connected to the respective firstand second sensing electrodes 50 and 60 are formed on a second surfacethat is an upper surface of the substrate 10 a.

The example embodiment of FIG. 4B has a structure in which the first andsecond sensing cells 51 and 61 constituting the respective first andsecond sensing electrodes 50 and 60, and the first and second positiondetecting lines 150 and 160 connected to the respective first and secondsensing electrodes 50 and 60 are formed on a first surface that is alower surface of the substrate 10 a.

Although it has been illustrated in the example embodiment of FIGS. 4Aand 4B that only one retardation film 10 b is provided, the retardationfilm 10 b may be implemented in the stacked structure of a plurality ofretardation films having different retardation values as shown in FIG.3B.

Next, when comparing the example embodiment shown in FIG. 5 with theexample embodiment of FIG. 3A, the example embodiment of FIG. 5 isdifferent the example embodiment of FIG. 3A in that the substrate 10 bhaving sensing electrodes formed thereon is implemented with aretardation film 10 b disposed below the polarizing plate 20, ratherthan the low retardation film having very low retardation value (about20 nm or less).

Thus, the example embodiment of FIG. 5 has a structure in which thefirst sensing cells 51 and the first connection patterns 52,constituting the first sensing electrodes 50, and the first positiondetecting lines 150 connected to the first sensing electrodes 50 areformed on a first surface of the retardation film 10 b, and the secondsensing cells 61 and the second connection patterns 62, constituting thesecond sensing electrodes 60, and the second position detecting lines160 connected to the second sensing electrodes 60 are formed on a secondsurface of the retardation film 10 b.

Thus, in the example embodiment of FIG. 5, it is possible to remove thesubstrate provided in the example embodiment of FIG. 3A, i.e., thesubstrate 10 a implemented with the low retardation film having very lowretardation value (about 20 nm or less), to thereby implement anultra-thin flexible touch screen panel.

In the present example embodiment, the retardation film 10 b as thesubstrate on which the sensing cells 51 and 61, etc., are formed may beimplemented with a PC, OPP or PVA film having a retardation function.

Among the components constituting the example embodiment of FIG. 5,components identical to those in the example embodiment of FIG. 3 aredesignated by like reference numerals, and details thereof will not berepeated.

In the example embodiments of FIGS. 6A and 6B, like the exampleembodiment of FIG. 5, the sensing electrodes 50 and 60 are formed on thesame surface of a substrate 10 b as a retardation film. The stackedstructure of the other components is identical to that in the exampleembodiment of FIG. 5, and therefore details thereof will not berepeated.

Thus, the example embodiment of FIG. 6A has a structure in which thefirst and second sensing cells 51 and 61 constituting the respectivefirst and second sensing electrodes 50 and 60, and the first and secondposition detecting lines 150 and 160 connected to the respective firstand second sensing electrodes 50 and 60 are formed on a second surfacethat is an upper surface of the substrate 10 b.

The example embodiment of FIG. 6B has a structure in which the first andsecond sensing cells 51 and 61 constituting the respective first andsecond sensing electrodes 50 and 60, and the first and second positiondetecting lines 150 and 160 connected to the respective first and secondsensing electrodes 50 and 60 are formed on a first surface that is alower surface of the substrate 10 b.

Next, when comparing the example embodiment shown in FIG. 7 with theexample embodiment of FIG. 5, the example embodiment of FIG. 7 isdifferent the example embodiment of FIG. 5 in that a second retardationfilm 10 c having a retardation value different from that of a firstretardation film 10 b having sensing electrodes formed thereon isfurther provided between the first retardation film 10 b and thepolarizing plate 20.

Thus, if the first retardation film 10 b is a QWP having a retardationfunction as an example, the second retardation film 10 c as an HWP isfurther provided between the first retardation film 10 and thepolarizing plate 20 in order to secure the optimal black characteristicfor light transmitted through the polarizing plate 20.

Among the components constituting the example embodiment of FIG. 7,components identical to those in the example embodiment of FIG. 5 aredesignated by like reference numerals, and therefore details thereofwill not be repeated.

In the example embodiments of FIGS. 8A and 8B, like the exampleembodiment of FIG. 7, the sensing electrodes 50 and 60 are formed on thesame surface of the substrate 10 b as the first retardation film. Thestacked structure of the other components is identical to that in theexample embodiment of FIG. 7, and therefore details thereof will not berepeated.

Thus, the example embodiment of FIG. 8A has a structure in which thefirst and second sensing cells 51 and 61 constituting the respectivefirst and second sensing electrodes 50 and 60, and the first and secondposition detecting lines 150 and 160 connected to the respective firstand second sensing electrodes 50 and 60 are formed on a second surfacethat is an upper surface of the first retardation film 10 b.

The example embodiment of FIG. 8B has a structure in which the first andsecond sensing cells 51 and 61 constituting the respective first andsecond sensing electrodes 50 and 60, and the first and second positiondetecting lines 150 and 160 connected to the respective first and secondsensing electrodes 50 and 60 are formed on a first surface that is alower surface of the first retardation film 10 b.

By way of summation and review, touch screen panels may be divided intoa resistive overlay touch screen panel, a photosensitive touch screenpanel, a capacitive touch screen panel, and the like. Among these touchscreen panels, the capacitive touch screen panel converts a contactposition into an electrical signal by sensing a change in capacitanceformed between a conductive sensing electrode and an adjacent sensingelectrode or ground electrode when a user's hand or object comes incontact with the touch screen panel. Generally, such a touch screenpanel is frequently commercialized by being attached to an outer face ofa flat panel display such as a liquid crystal display or organic lightemitting display. Therefore, the touch screen panel requirescharacteristics of high transparency and thin thickness. A flexibledisplay device has recently been developed, and a touch screen panelattached on the flexible display device also requires flexibility.

In a general touch screen panel, the sensing electrodes may beimplemented using a transparent conductive material such as indium tinoxide (ITO). However, when the flexible touch screen panel is bent orfolded, cracks may occur in the sensing electrodes, and therefore, anoperation failure may be caused. In a general touch screen panel, athin-film growth process, a pattern formation process, and the like maybe used for forming the sensing electrodes and the like, and therefore,characteristics such as high thermal resistance and chemical resistancemay be required. Accordingly, the sensing electrodes and the like may beformed on a glass substrate in view of the process characteristics.However, the glass substrate should have a thickness with a certainvalue or more so as to be carried during processes. Therefore, the glasssubstrate may not be sufficiently thin or flexible.

As described above, embodiments may provide a flexible touch screenpanel in which sensing electrodes as touch sensors are formed in theshape of a flexible conductive mesh on at least one surface of asubstrate having flexibility. Thus, it may be possible to secure theflexibility of the flexible touch screen panel and to decrease thethickness of the flexible touch screen panel. Embodiments may alsoprovide a flexible touch screen panel in which a polarizing plate havingflexibility is formed on the substrate having the sensing electrodesformed thereon. Thus, it may be possible to reduce visibility of thesensing electrodes. Embodiments may also provide a flexible displaydevice with the flexible touch screen panel.

As described above, according to embodiments, sensing electrodes astouch sensors may be formed in the shape of a flexible conductive meshon at least one surface of a substrate having flexibility. Thus, it maybe possible to secure the flexibility of the flexible touch screen paneland to decrease the thickness of the flexible touch screen panel.Further, a polarizing plate having flexibility may be formed on thesubstrate having the sensing electrodes formed thereon. Thus, it may bepossible to reduce visibility of the sensing electrodes.

Example embodiments have been disclosed herein, and although specificterms are employed, they are used and are to be interpreted in a genericand descriptive sense only and not for purpose of limitation. In someinstances, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art asof the filing of the present application, features, characteristics,and/or elements described in connection with a particular embodiment maybe used singly or in combination with features, characteristics, and/orelements described in connection with other embodiments unless otherwisespecifically indicated. Accordingly, it will be understood by those ofskill in the art that various changes in form and details may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention asset forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A flexible touch screen panel, comprising: asubstrate having flexibility; first sensing electrodes and secondsensing electrodes on a same surface of the substrate, the first sensingelectrodes and the second sensing electrodes including an opaqueconductive material; position detecting lines connected to the first andsecond sensing electrodes; a polarizing plate on the substrate; anadhesive layer between the polarizing plate and the substrate; and atleast one retardation film between the substrate and the polarizingplate, wherein: each of the first and second sensing electrodes isimplemented in a mesh shape having a plurality of openings, the firstsensing electrodes include a plurality of first sensing cells arrangedalong a first direction, and first connection patterns connecting thefirst sensing cells to each other, the second sensing electrodes includea plurality of second sensing cells arranged along a second directionintersecting the first direction, and second connection patternsconnecting the second sensing cells to each other, the first sensingelectrodes and the second sensing electrodes intersect each otherbetween the first connection patterns and second connection patterns, aninsulation layer is disposed between the first connection patterns andthe second connection patterns, the at least one retardation film is atleast one of a quarter-wave plate, a half-wave plate, and a plateincluding a half-wave plate stacked on a quarter-wave plate, and thesubstrate is formed of a polymer.
 2. The flexible touch screen panel asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the opaque conductive material is at leastone of Ag, Al, Cu, Cr, and Ni, or a nano-metal conductive layer.
 3. Theflexible touch screen panel as claimed in claim 1, wherein thepolarizing plate includes a film made of poly vinyl alcohol havingflexibility.
 4. The flexible touch screen panel as claimed in claim 1,wherein the polarizing plate includes a coating-type polarizing layer.5. A flexible touch screen panel, comprising: a substrate havingflexibility; sensing electrodes on the substrate, the sensing electrodesincluding an opaque conductive material; position detecting linesconnected to the sensing electrodes; a polarizing plate on thesubstrate; an adhesive layer between the polarizing plate and thesubstrate; and at least one retardation film between the substrate andthe polarizing plate, wherein: each of the sensing electrodes isimplemented in a mesh shape having a plurality of openings, the at leastone retardation film is at least one of a quarter-wave plate, ahalf-wave plate, and a plate including a half-wave plate stacked on aquarter-wave plate, the substrate is formed of a polymer, and thesensing electrodes and position detecting lines are formed in a samelayer.
 6. The flexible touch screen panel as claimed in claim 5, whereinthe opaque conductive material is at least one of Ag, Al, Cu, Cr, andNi, or a nano-metal conductive layer.
 7. The flexible touch screen panelas claimed in claim 5, wherein the polarizing plate includes a film madeof poly vinyl alcohol having flexibility.
 8. The flexible touch screenpanel as claimed in claim 5, wherein the polarizing plate includes acoating-type polarizing layer.
 9. A flexible touch screen panel,comprising: a substrate having flexibility; sensing electrodes on thesubstrate; position detecting lines connected to the sensing electrodes;a polarizing plate on the substrate; an adhesive layer between thepolarizing plate and the substrate; and at least one retardation filmbetween the substrate and the polarizing plate, wherein: the substrateincludes at least one of a polycarbonate and a cyclic polyolefin, andthe at least one retardation film is at least one of a quarter-waveplate, a half-wave plate, and a plate including a half-wave platestacked on a quarter-wave plate.
 10. The flexible touch screen panel asclaimed in claim 9, wherein the substrate includes a retardation filmhaving a retardation value of about 20 nm or less.
 11. The flexibletouch screen panel as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sensing electrodesinclude an opaque conductive material.
 12. The flexible touch screenpanel as claimed in claim 11, wherein the opaque conductive material isat least one of Ag, Al, Cu, Cr, and Ni, or a nano-metal conductivelayer.
 13. A flexible touch screen panel, comprising: a substrate havingflexibility; sensing electrodes on the substrate; position detectinglines connected to the sensing electrodes; a polarizing plate on thesubstrate; an adhesive layer between the polarizing plate and thesubstrate; and at least one retardation film between the substrate andthe polarizing plate, wherein: the substrate includes at least one of apolycarbonate and a cyclic polyolefin, and the at least one retardationfilm includes a quarter-wave plate.
 14. The flexible touch screen panelas claimed in claim 13, wherein the substrate includes a retardationfilm having a retardation value of about 20 nm or less.
 15. The flexibletouch screen panel as claimed in claim 13, wherein the sensingelectrodes include an opaque conductive material.
 16. The flexible touchscreen panel as claimed in claim 15, wherein the opaque conductivematerial is at least one of Ag, Al, Cu, Cr, and Ni, or a nano-metalconductive layer.
 17. A flexible touch screen panel, comprising: asubstrate having flexibility; sensing electrodes on the substrate;position detecting lines connected to the sensing electrodes; apolarizing plate on the substrate; an adhesive layer between thepolarizing plate and the substrate; and at least one retardation filmbetween the substrate and the polarizing plate, wherein: the substrateincludes at least one of a polycarbonate and a cyclic polyolefin, andthe at least one retardation film includes a plate including a half-waveplate stacked on a quarter-wave plate.
 18. The flexible touch screenpanel as claimed in claim 17, wherein the substrate includes aretardation film having a retardation value of about 20 nm or less. 19.The flexible touch screen panel as claimed in claim 17, wherein thesensing electrodes include an opaque conductive material.
 20. Theflexible touch screen panel as claimed in claim 19, wherein the opaqueconductive material is at least one of Ag, Al, Cu, Cr, and Ni, or anano-metal conductive layer.